OPENING AND CLOSING DEVICE FOR FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS AND CONTAINER PROVIDED WITH SUCH A DEVICE

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention is related to an opening and reclosing device for flexible containers, for instance packets of plastic material or the like for bulk food products as well as for powder or liquid products.

[0002] These containers, sealed by the manufacturers, are opened for removal of the contents traditionally by cutting or tearing a top portion thereof, and cannot be subsequently closed again adequately so as to prevent or at least limit accidental coming out of the products.

Background art

[0003] More particularly, the invention refers to an opening and reclosing device comprising an adhesive flexible member to be applied onto the outer surface of one container wall in correspondence of a die-cut thereof. An opening and reclosing device of this kind is generally known from US-A-4,874,096 owned by the same Applicant. Reference is made to US-A-4 679 693 on which is based the preamble of claim 1.

Disclosure of the invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and cheap opening and reclosing device, which enables both to open the first time the container in a convenient and practical way, and to efficiently reclose the container following each removal of the contents.

[0005] A further object of the invention is to provide an opening and reclosing device which can be applied to the container in a simple and mechanized way.

[0006] According to the invention, the above objects are achieved by virtue of an opening and reclosing device as defined in claim 1.

[0007] According to the proposed solution, the first opening of the container can be performed by the user simply following removal of the adhesive label so as to allow access to the contents through the die-cut area of the container.

[0008] As a consequence of the removal of the label, the bi-adhesive strip which remains adherent to the container enables reclosing thereof, following simple folding of an edge portion of the container beyond the die-cut area so as to attach this edge portion over the container by means of the bi-adhesive strip. Following each subsequent reopening, the container can be readily reclosed in the same way.

[0009] Preferably the label is transparent: this allows, through a peculiar design of the die-cut area on the container wall, to provide an immediate visual indication related to the container having been opened at least once. This can be achieved, for instance, forming the die-cut area of the container wall with a number of slits spaced apart from one another and delimiting a releasable strip of a shorter length than the label, with each slit being separated from the adjacent ones through preferential breakage areas. Accordingly, when the container is opened for the first time, the strip delimited by the slits is removed along with the label: when the latter be subsequently re-applied, ready visual indication shall be obtained of the fact that the strip has already been separated from the remainder of the container wall.

Brief description of the drawings

[0010] The invention will now be disclosed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, purely provided by way of non limiting example, in which:

figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective and partial view of a flexible container provided with an opening and reclosing device according to the invention,

figure 2 is a fragmentary and enlarged view of the detail indicated by arrow II in figure 1,

figure 3 is a cross sectioned and enlarged view along line III-III of figure 1,

figure 4 is a perspective view showing the opening phase of the container,

figure 5 is a view similar to figure 4 showing the re-closed condition of the container,

figure 6 is a sectioned and enlarged view along line VI-VI of figure 5,

figure 7 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention,

figure 8 is a perspective view showing the opening phase of the container provided with the device according to figure 7, and

figure 9 is a diagrammatic section along line IX-IX of figure 7.

Preferred embodiments of the invention

[0011] Referring initially to figures 1 through 3, reference numeral 1 generally designates a flexible container, for instance constituted by a sealed packet normally made of thermoplastic material or plasticized paper, which is intended to contain bulk food products (or even powders or liquids). The container 1 has one end 2 sealed by means of heat welding or glueing, and is provided on one of its walls 3 with a die-cut area 4 adjacent and parallel to the sealed end 2.

[0012] The die-cut area 4 may simply be constituted by a single elongated slot or, as in the case of the shown example, it may be formed by a series of slits 5 spaced apart from one another and delimiting a removable strip 6 having a rectangular shape. In this case pairs of V-shaped cuts 7 are formed between the adjacent slits 5, which are defining a preferential breakage pattern of the wall 3.

[0013] Reference 8 designates a label also having a rectangular elongated shape, whose length is greater than that of the die-cut area 4, and which is preferably but not necessarily transparent. The label 8 comprises a support sheet 9 of paper or plastic material, having an adhesive face 10 defined by two side-by-side adhesive films or layer 10a, 10b extending parallelly to the longitudinal extension of the label 8 and the first of which is permanently adhered to the support sheet 9, and the second of which is bi-adhesive and is detachably connected to the support sheet 9, through the interposition of a silicone layer 10c or the like.

[0014] Moreover the label 8 has a non-adhesive end 11 defining a gripper portion.

[0015] The label 8 is applied onto the wall 3 of the container 1 so that the adhesive section 10a thereof completely overlays the die-cut 4, while the bi-adhesive section 10b thereof adheres to an area of the wall 3 adjacent and parallel to the die-cut 4. This area is most conveniently the one located, with respect to the die-cut 4, on the side opposite to the end 2 of the container 1.

[0016] Figures 4 through 6 show the way of opening and reclosing the container 1.

[0017] At the time of the first opening, it is sufficient, after manually gripping the non-adhesive end 11, to detach the label 8 from the wall 3 of the container 1. The contents therein is thus accessible through the die-cut 4: if the latter is constituted by a mere slot, the contents can be removed through this slot exposed following release of the label 8. If on the contrary the die-cut. is formed such as previously disclosed, the detachment of the label 8 will cause removal of the strip 6, by virtue of the breakage of the wall 3 in the areas comprised between the slits 5, so as to generate a corresponding elongated quadrangular aperture 12.

[0018] When the label 8 is thus removed, the bi-adhesive layer 10b is separated from the support sheet 9, thus remaining permanently anchored on the wall 3, aside the aperture 12 (figure 4).

[0019] According to the above disclosed arrangement, if the label 8 is transparent and in case the latter is re-applied onto the wall 3 for instance following an unauthorized removal of part of the products from the container, a clear visual indication shall be provided of the opening having occurred, due to breakage of the areas corresponding to the cuts 7, and in any case due to a re-positioning of the strip 6 for sure different from the original one, i.e. prior to removal of the label 8.

[0020] Reclosing of the container 1 is simply performed by folding the end 2 over the aperture 12 and adhesively attaching it onto the bi-adhesive layer 10b (figures 5 and 6). Undesired outlet of the contents of the container is thus prevented following obstruction of the aperture 2 by the folded end 2, and for a subsequent reopening it is then sufficient to detach the latter from the bi-adhesive layer 10b.

[0021] Accordingly, the container 1 can be opened and reclosed several times, until depletion of the contents.

[0022] An alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention is shown in figures 7, 8 and 9. Parts corresponding to those already disclosed in the above are indicated by the same numeral references.

[0023] Reverting to figures 7 through 9, the label 8 is provided with a reinforcement portion 14 arranged on one side of the bi-adhesive layer 10b and having a frame configuration surrounding the die-cut area 4 formed in the wall 3 of the container.

[0024] The reinforcement portion 14 has an inner adhesive surface 14a and an outer siliconed surface 14b contacting the adhesive face 10a of the support sheet 9 of the label 8.

[0025] As shown in figure 8, upon removal of the support sheet 9, the reinforcement portion 14 remains adherent to the wall 3 together with the bi-adhesive layer 10b. The strip 6 remains adherent to the adhesive face 10a of the support sheet 9 and is removed together with the latter same as previously disclosed.

[0026] The portion 14 constitutes a reinforcement of the wall 3 in order to prevent breakage and tearing thereof beyond the boundary of the initial aperture.

[0027] Naturally the details of construction and the embodiments may be widely varied with respect to what has been disclosed and illustrated, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention such as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. Opening and reclosing device for sealed flexible containers (1) comprising an adhesive flexible member to be applied onto the outer surface of one wall (3) of the container (1) in correspondence of a die-cut thereof (4), wherein said adhesive member comprises a label (8) having an adhesive face (10) intended to be applied over said die-cut area (4) of the container wall (3), characterized in that said adhesive face (10) includes two side-by-side sections (10a, 10b) the first of which (10a) is intended to detachably overlay the wall (3) of the container (1) along said die-cut area (4) and to be permanently removed therefrom following first opening of the container, and the second of which (10b) is constituted by a bi-adhesive strip which is entirely detachable from the label (8) and permanently adheres to the container wall (3) in proximity of said die-cut area (4) so as to allow releasable closure of said wall (3) following folding thereof over said die-cut area (4).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the label (8) is transparent.

3. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the label has an elongated shape and is provided with a non-adhesive gripping end (11).

4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the label (8) has a reinforcement portion (14) which is detachable from the label (8) and intended to permanently adhere to the container wall (3) around said die-cut area (4).

5. A flexible container provide with an opening and reclosing device according to any of claims 1 through 4.

6. Container according to claim 5, characterized in that said die-cut area (4) of said one wall (3) of the container (1) is formed in proximity of and parallel to one end (2) of the container (1), and in that said bi-adhesive strip (10b) of said label (8) is adhered to said wall (3) parallelly to said die-cut area (4) and on the side thereof opposite to said end (2) of the container (1).

7. Container according to claim 6, characterized in that said die-cut area (4) is formed by a slot having a shorter length than the label (8).

8. Container according to claim 6, characterized in that said die-cut area (4) is formed by a number of slits (5) spaced apart from one another and delimiting a removable strip (6) having a shorter length than the label (8), each slit (5) being separated from adjacent slits (5) via preferential breakage patterns (7).

Ansprüche

1. Öffnungs- und Verschlußvorrichtung für geschlossene flexible Behälter (1), die ein flexibles Haftteil aufweisen, das an der äußeren Oberfläche einer Wand (3) des Behälters (1) in Entsprechung zu einer Stanzung (4) desselben angebracht wird, wobei das Haftteil ein Schild (8) mit einer haftenden Fläche (10) aufweist, die über den Stanzungsbereich (4) der Behälterwand (3) angebracht werden soll, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die haftende Fläche (10) zwei nebeneinander liegende Abschnitte (10a, 10b) umfaßt, von denen der erste Abschnitt (10a) die Wand (3) des Behälters (1) längs des Stanzungsbereiches (4) lösbar überdecken soll und der beim ersten Öffnen des Behälters permanent von diesem entfernt werden soll, und von denen der zweite Abschnitt (10b) aus einem zweiseitig haftenden Streifen besteht, der von dem Schild (8) vollständig lösbar ist und an der Behälterwand (3) nahe dem Stanzungsbereich (4) permanent haftet, so daß er ein wieder lösbares Schließen der Wand (3) durch Umfalten derselben über den Stanzungsbereich (4) gestattet.

2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Schild (8) transparent ist.

3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Schild eine längliche Form hat und mit einem nichthaftenden Griffende (11) versehen ist.

4. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Schild (8) einen Verstärkungsabschnitt (14) aufweist, der von dem Schild (8) lösbar ist und permanent an der Behälterwand (3) rund um den Stanzungsbereich (4) haften soll.

5. Flexibler Behälter, der mit einer Öffnungs- und Verschlußvorrichtung nach irgendeinem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4 ausgestattet ist.

6. Behälter nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Stanzungsbereich (4) der einen Wand (3) des Behälters (1) in der Nähe des einen Randes (2) und parallel zu dem Rand (2) des Behälters (1) ausgebildet ist, und daß der beidseitig haftende Streifen (10b) des Schildes (8) an der Wand (3) parallel zu dem Stanzungsbereich (4) und an dessen dem Rand (2) des Behälters (1) abgewandter Seite haftet.

7. Behälter nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Stanzungsbereich (4) durch einen Schlitz gebildet wird, der eine kürzere Länge aufweist als das Schild (8).

8. Behälter nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Stanzungsbereich (4) durch eine Anzahl von zu einander beabstandeten Schlitzen (5) gebildet wird, durch die ein entfernbarer Streifen (6) begrenzt wird, der eine kürzere Länge als das Schild (8) aufweist, wobei jeder Schlitz (5) von dem danebenliegenden Schlitzen (5) durch Sollbruchmuster (7) getrennt ist.

Revendications

1. Dispositif d'ouverture et de refermeture pour récipients souples (1) fermés hermétiquement, comprenant un élément souple adhésif destiné à être appliqué sur la surface extérieure d'une paroi (3) du récipient (1) au droit d'une fenêtre (4) de cette paroi, dans lequel ledit élément adhésif comprend une étiquette (8) ayant une face adhésive (10) destinée à être appliquée par dessus ladite zone découpée (4) de la paroi (3) du récipient, caractérisé en ce que ladite face adhésive (10) comprend deux sections (10a, 10b) disposées côte à côte dont la première (10a) est destinée à recouvrir de façon détachable la paroi (3) du récipient (1) le long de ladite zone découpée (4) et à en être séparée de façon permanente à la suite de la première ouverture du récipient, et dont la deuxième (10b) est constituée par une bande adhésive sur les deux faces qui peut être séparée entièrement de l'étiquette (8) et qui adhère de façon permanente à la paroi (3) du récipient à proximité de ladite zone découpée (4) de manière à permettre la fermeture séparable de ladite paroi (3) à la suite de son rabattement par dessus ladite zone découpée (4).

2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'étiquette (8) est transparente.

3. Dispositif selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que l'étiquette a une forme allongée et est munie d'une extrémité de prise non adhésive (11).

4. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'étiquette (8) possède une portion de renforcement (14) qui peut être séparée de l'étiquette (8) et est destinée à adhérer de façon permanente à la paroi (3) du récipient autour de ladite zone découpée (4).

5. Récipient souple équipé d'un dispositif d'ouverture et de refermeture selon une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4.

6. Récipient selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que ladite zone découpée (4) de ladite première paroi (3) du récipient (1) est formée à proximité d'une première extrémité (2) du récipient (1) et parallèlement à cette extrémité, et en ce que ladite bande adhésive sur les deux faces (10b) de ladite étiquette (8) est collée à ladite paroi (3) parallèlement à ladite zone découpée (4) et sur le côté de cette zone qui est à l'opposé de ladite extrémité (2) du récipient (1).

7. Récipient selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que ladite zone découpée (4) est formée par une fente ayant une plus courte longueur que l'étiquette (8).

8. Récipient selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que ladite zone découpée (4) est formé par plusieurs incisions (5) espacées l'une de l'autre et qui délimitent une bande séparable (6) ayant une plus petite longueur que l'étiquette (8), chaque incision (5) étant séparée des incisions (5) adjacentes par des dessins de rupture préférentielle (7).

Drawing